West Central Florida: Mahi-Mahi; Big Red Snapper and Grouper; Shrimp Pattern a Good Bet Inshore

Capt. Ray Markham covers the fishing forecast from Aripeka to Longboat Key, including Hudson, Anclote Key, Tarpon Springs, Dunedin, Clearwater, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Anna Maria Island and Bradenton. Contact info: RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM; 941-228-3474; www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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July 11-13 Report

The influence of Thursday night’s full moon will carry throughout the weekend, creating some good moving water, higher than normal tides, along with some bottoming out lows. Inshore action should be good. Offshore anglers may find some bottom currents to be bothersome for anchoring and getting baits to stay where they want them.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

Nearshore and offshore anglers alike are finding some mahi-mahi from about 60 feet of water and greater. This Thursday’s full moon will make for stronger currents that could create tide rips with floating grass lines, making good cover for bait schools and an attraction for foraging fish, such as mahi, bonito, wahoo, and others.

Lane snapper continue to bite well inside the 90-foot mark, with mangrove snapper being more active in numbers at 100 feet and deeper, according to Capt. Dylan Hubbard at Hubbard’s Marina. His long-range trips have been hitting some big red snapper consistently, along with fat red grouper in about 160 feet of water. Scamp grouper are also being caught at that same depth as well as mangrove and vermilion snappers, porgies, and other reef fish. The red grouper bite has been solid in depths ranging from 140 to 180 feet of water. Blackfin tuna, an occasional wahoo, and some dolphin have also been in the mix.

INSHORE

A few days with no or less rain have brought water temperatures back up in the skinny bays, making the incoming waters a little cooler, enhancing the bite. Thursday’s full moon has snook chewing hard between their spawning rituals. The beaches have been full of snook, particularly around the passes. The passes at night around the bridge lights have been loaded with snook and some big trout, feeding on bait schools. Dock lights in the ICW from Sarasota to Anclote Key have similar action. Live shrimp have been a top bait when you can find something other than a pee wee size, but it might be a couple of months before you can get larger shrimp consistently. In the meantime, DOA Shrimp are probably accounting for more fish than just about anything else, whether the lure is drifted in the tide past structure for snook, or cast into potholes and channel edges for trout and flounder. The lure is also exceptional for skipping under mangroves for redfish. One technique I use when skipping under overhanging mangroves where there is a lot of debris that the lure can be caught on is to skip the lure back under the overhang, but don’t allow it to sink. When it reaches the back of the bushes, gently pull it out to the edge of the shadow line of the overhanging limbs. The bait skipping to the back gets their attention, and then moving it back out imitates a bait trying to flee, but allowing it to fall at that point gives you clear access to fight the fish without having too many places for the fish to wrap you up and break you off. Just keep pressure on the fish to turn it away from the mangroves.

Early morning topwater lure fishing is a blast. The subdued light in the early hours allows better vision for fish to feed on the surface. The surface commotion and vibrations of a lure walking the dog on the surface are usually enough enticement to get lethargic fish to chew. My personal favorite is MirrOlure 94MR 18 and 21 color lures. These natural-colored lures not only work exceptionally well in clear water, but the action of the lure and the sound it makes are more than enough to draw strikes in either stained or turbid water conditions. The Rapala Skitterwalk has also been a mainstay for anglers who love fishing with topwater lures and is very effective.

For fish that are the most timid and reluctant to hit lures, the MirrOlure MirrOdine in a variety of sizes and colors is the bomb. I usually prefer the 17MR size for spinning rods and the 27MR size for baitcasting. The slightly larger lure adds a bit more weight for increased distance in casting, and in clear water conditions, it can make the difference between getting bit or not. From Berkley, the Stick Shad 90 makes a good impression on hungry fish when a suspending lure gives that “in your face” presentation in the strike zone. Some terrific trout action has been taking place from Dunedin to Anclote Key in depths ranging from 3 to 6 feet of water. Grass patches in the ICW are holding fish. I target fish in this situation with either a jig, like the CAL Jig with a Shad tail, or the MirrOlure Marsh Minnow Jr. soft plastic shad tail. Both will catch about anything that swims and eats fish or shrimp.

Redfish action has been hit-and-miss for some anglers, and the rains that were so heavy over the past few weeks may have something to do with the scattering of fish in the region. Areas around Fort DeSota, Bunces Pass, Shell Key, and some fish scattered along the causeway leading out to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge from St. Pete have been holding some redfish. The Clam Bar, which is located just east of the Pinellas Skyway toll, will hold snook as well. The channel leading from the Dick Misner Bridge out toward Pinellas Point has been holding a few pompano and some decent trout. Doc’s Goofy Jigs have caught both, as has the DOA TerrorEyz in that area.

Sarasota Bay continues to produce some nice reds from Long Bar north to Price’s Key in Bradenton. When pinfish are present, I like to use an Eppinger Rex weedless gold spoon. The flash of the spoon looks similar to that of a small pinfish. The Bulkhead at 7 Pines is also holding some decent redfish if the tide is up enough to get your boat in there.

SUNCOAST TARPON ROUNDUP

Started in 1934, the Suncoast Tarpon Roundup has been a tournament that has kept up with the times in terms of conservation and has continued the sport of inshore/nearshore big game competition for the fish that continues to sit on the throne, the Silver King. Tarpon fishing has been around for decades and the challenge with skill and tackle has always been one that anglers eagerly pursue. Captains Meeting: Friday, July 11 at 7 PM. For more information, go to tarponroundup.org.

FRESHWATER

Fewer thunderstorms have allowed anglers to get back on the water without having to be so concerned if they will be a crispy critter if they don’t make it back to shore before the lightning bolts start to crack. Both panfish and bass have been active around the shorelines in the Braden River and in Lake Manatee for anglers working spinnerbaits, Road Runners, and Beetle Spins. Live shiners are producing some bigger bass on Lake Tarpon, with the average size at about 4 to 6 pounds.

With school out and before the tropics get super active, making us think about where to hide from a hurricane, it’s a great time to get kids on the water. Boat rides can be educational in terms of safety and talking about rules of the road while boating, as well as emergency actions on what to do in the event a captain falls overboard, or if they might even need to take over the helm. Teaching kids how to boat safely is a building block for later in life and to build confidence in them. Here are the requirements to run a boat.

• Boater Safety Education: Florida law requires those born on or after January 1, 1988, to complete a boater safety course and possess a Boating Safety Education Identification Card when operating a boat with 10 horsepower or more.
• Personal Watercraft (PWC): A person must be at least 14 years old to operate a PWC.
• Renting a PWC: You must be at least 18 years old to rent a PWC.
• Exemptions: Certain individuals are exempt from the boater safety education requirements, including those with a U.S. Coast Guard master's license, those operating on private lakes or ponds, and those accompanied by someone who meets the age and education requirements.

Boating safety is important, and everyone can benefit by taking a course. Contact your local Coast Guard Auxiliary for information. ‘Til then…be safe, and I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

PREVIOUS REPORTS

July 4-6 Report

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!

Working on a quarter-moon tide, the water levels will be close to average for locations everywhere, limiting the number of groundings for the Independence Day  Holiday weekend. Boaters will be on the water preparing for fireworks displays just about everywhere, so be sure you have a lookout along with the captain to watch for boaters who may not be paying attention. Ensure that your safety equipment is in good working order and in date. Life jackets should be worn by non-swimmers, and readily available for all in the event of an emergency. Children under the age of 6 must wear a Type I, II, or III PFD while onboard a vessel under 26 feet in length while the vessel is underway. Be safe and have a great 4th!

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

Windy days, hail, lightning, heavy rain, and thunderstorms have kept a lot of folks off the water this week. Waterspouts and tornado activity have also been mixed in with this crazy weather we’ve had for the past few weeks. But for the few who did manage to get out, they found some interesting fishing. Mahi-mahi were caught within 50 feet of water, according to a couple of reports. Mangrove snapper in the 3- to 5-pound class were caught nearshore in depths ranging from 30 to 60 feet. For those who have been targeting red snapper, the fishing has been consistent, and that has been good. While some red snappers were caught inside 100 feet, the bulk of the big fish were caught beyond about 120 feet. But out as far as 200 feet, anglers had to deal with stronger bottom currents that seemed to make the fishing slower. Fat red grouper and some scamp grouper have been caught on the party boats out of Hubbard’s Marina. Yellowtail, vermilion, a few muttons, and lane snappers were also caught along with some porgies and mahi.

INSHORE

Night fishing for snook around the lighted docks and bridge fenders has been good. Back bay areas and on the grass flats around John’s Pass, Fort DeSoto, and in Boca Ciega Bay, as well as Terra Ceia Bay, have given up some decent redfish for anglers fishing cut pinfish, MirrOlure MirrOdines, and the new Space Dust color MirrOlure Lil John. Grass flats across Tampa Bay on the South Shore are producing good numbers of schooling redfish on gold Eppinger Rex Spoons, DOA CAL Shad in gold and night glow colors as well as 7MRG MirrOlure hard baits.

Trout fishing continues to be good with limits of fish coming easily, with most in the mid-to-upper slot sizes. A few larger over-slot trout are being caught regularly from Clearwater Harbor to Anclote. Pompano were reported to be caught on Crazy Jigs around the Dunedin Causeway. The Ozona area has been hot with a variety of species, including snook, trout, and refish. Anglers heading just off the beaches there and to the south are continuing to see good tarpon action on threadfins, whitebait, and crabs all the way south to Bean Point at Anna Maria. The grass flats off Key Royal, there at Anna Maria, are producing good action with speckled trout by anglers tossing TTR26 MirrOlures, Berkley Stick Shads, and CAL Jigs with Shad tails. Anglers working to the south from Sarasota Bay to Venice are doing well on just about all species, including pompano. Pompano were reported being caught around New Pass and Big Sarasota Pass by anglers using Doc’s Goofy Jigs and DOA TerrorEyz inside the passes. Several flounder were also caught in the area and around Joe Bay by anglers tossing jigs and bouncing them off the bottom.

FRESHWATER

Water, water everywhere! We have had so much rain lately that the area's retention ponds, lakes, and rivers are about at their upper levels and near overflowing their banks. This has been making fishing somewhat more difficult in that fish have much more area in which they can forage for food. Most lakes don’t have current as a rule, unless there is a strong wind or there are storm drains that empty excess water from lakes to prevent them from overflowing their banks. Anglers fishing lures that resemble tilapia or small bluegill around these storm drains are finding good action with some hefty bass that are there for the ambush. Early mornings that are not raining and torched with lightning have been productive for both panfish and bass fished on 4-to 5 wt. fly rods. An assortment of flies imitating worms, crickets, grasshoppers, small frogs, and poppers is attracting some good action. Top lakes reported in the area have been Lake Manatee down in Bradenton, Lake Tarpon in Tarpon Springs, and fair action at Lake Seminole in Seminole. Entry-level fly rod combos can be had for well under $100 and are worth the price to get youngsters involved in the sport of fly fishing at a reasonable price. I started fly fishing very young, about 3 or 4 years of age, so it’s doable with good instruction, practice, and patience. Taking a kid fishing and teaching them to fish will be one of the most rewarding experiences you and they will ever have, and will remain a memory for as long as they live. Make a memory that will last a lifetime. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

June 27-29 Report

The new moon this past Wednesday night will bring some great tides for both day and nighttime fishing. Inshore anglers should pay close attention to areas where fish might ambush prey, like points, structure, and humps around sand bars and drop offs.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

Nearshore waters continue to produce good action with a multitude of species. Offshore anglers should have a good daytime bite around peak major and minor solunar periods. Red snapper continue to lead the way for offshore anglers. Red grouper are leading the grouper catches starting between 80 and 100 feet of water, and some scamp grouper have been caught as well beyond that, and continue to be open throughout the remainder of the year, well offshore. Deep water mangrove snapper sizes have been larger beyond about 120 feet. Yellowtail snapper are still being caught along with a few mutton snapper. Vermilion and lane snapper are also in the catch. Capt. Dylan Hubbard, out of Hubbard’s Marina, reported lane snapper action between 60 and 90 feet of water.

Mahi mahi are being caught from about 68 feet of water and beyond. Depths beyond 140 have produced some blackfin tuna and the occasional wahoo.

INSHORE

Trout are being caught just about anywhere there is some patchy seagrass and moving water with pods of baitfish, and on some hard bottom patches just off the beaches. The depths that speckled trout have been most consistent vary. Off the beaches, they have been targeted with success between 14 and 24 feet of water. Inshore, inside Tampa Bay, anglers have done well with specks in deeper holes off Weedon Island and Mermaid Point in about 20 feet of water by dropping a quarter-ounce jig to the bottom and vertically jigging it. The flats outside of Christmas Pass in 3 to 5 feet of water have been holding some trout in that area whenever whitebait is present. Along the shorelines at Weedon Island, higher tides are pushing redfish and snook up under the mangroves. MirrOlure 17MRPIN MirrOdines in the pinfish color are working well for both species.

Years ago, MirrOlure came out with a color called the Purple Demon that turned the fishing community upside down with chatter and fish being caught. Sure, freshwater anglers for years used purple worms, and it was a go-to color for thousands of bass anglers. But now, MirrOlure has done it again with a very special color in their Lil John line. This lure has long been a deadly effective lure for redfish, and a new color seems to be firing up redfish along the coast. The color is called Space Dust. The 3 ¾ inch purple lure with flecks of “space dust” is out of this world when it comes to getting a redfish's attention. I throw it on a 1/8- or 1/16-ounce CAL short-shank Jig head. The lightweight short-shank jig head gives it some great darting and gliding action that these fish find irresistible.

Old Tampa Bay continues to hold tarpon early in the morning, just south of the Courtney Campbell Causeway on the Clearwater side, around new and full moons with the outgoing tide. Many other areas of Tampa Bay, down to the Skyway Bridge and out to Egmont Key and over to Bean Point, have been holding good numbers of tarpon. From the south end of Fort DeSoto north along Bunces Pass, and inside Pass-A-Grille to the Bayway bridges, have held tarpon, around new and full moons. The crab flush late in the afternoon has these fish lining up to feed.

Snook fishing will be on fire this week, following Wednesday’s new moon. The morning incoming tide will see some cooler water, but the late afternoon outgoing tide usually produces some stronger currents, making for better opportunities for ambush predators to feed. Night fishing for snook should be terrific for inshore anglers working residential canals and the Intracoastal Waterway. Anglers to the south, fishing the Venice/ Sarasota area in “Snook Alley”, will find dock lights loaded with big snook and trout. Fly anglers can have a blast with these fish using small glass minnow and shrimp fly imitations.

FRESHWATER

Heavy rains over the past couple of weeks have had bass moving around lakes and rivers, feeding where currents are washing insects and baitfish past them like a conveyor belt. Overflow drains in residential ponds and storm drains see some action where tilapia and juvenile bream, and baitfish hang out to be eaten by bass. Lures that imitate small baitfish will work exceptionally well for bass right now. I’ve had good success using the CAL 3-inch Shad for bass. While it’s normally considered a saltwater lure by marketing standards, I’m not sure anyone told bass that. Rigged on a light jig head, the lures can be exceptionally productive. Early morning topwater fishing will give you chills when a big lunker blows up on your Rebel Pop R. Buzzbaits and noisy lures such as the Berkley Choppo produce some heart-stopping strikes from bass.

While baitcasters and spinning rods take their share of bass and bluegill, I think one of the best all-around rods for both might be the fly rod. For creative fly-tiers, anything can be created that looks like what fish eat with some fur, feathers, fiber, or foam. Creating your lure or fly and catching a fish on it is a satisfying hobby for any angler, and for a small child, it’s a craft project that will last a lifetime. Take your kids to a fly club meeting and introduce them to the sport, or check out the pages of Florida Sportsman for more information on fly fishing and fly tying. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

June 20-22 Report

Another soggy week with daily rain showers in much of the region has kept area waters a little cooler. Heavy downpours in some locations are affecting salinity levels and causing fish to move. It also oxygenates the water and makes fish more actively feed in inshore waters. Offshore, turbulent weather has limited the trips that anglers can safely or comfortably take, keeping them at the docks. In area lakes and retention ponds, fish are moving to the shorelines to feed on insects being washed into the water and on frogs that are there also to eat insects.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

Nearshore anglers can take advantage of the lane snapper bite that’s been running between 60 and 100 feet of water, according to Capt. Dylan Hubbard of Hubbard’s Marina at John’s Pass in Madeira Beach. Mangrove snapper have been scattered nearshore but have been dependable from about 140 feet and beyond, along with yellowtail snapper, red and scamp grouper, and American red snapper.

Spanish mackerel have been chewing on bait pods just off the beaches in the early morning hours. The bite usually continues until early morning, depending on the wind direction. Easterly winds lay the seas down, cleaning the water and moving bait schools into it. Westerlies will stir up water and make for poor conditions for mackerel along the beaches. Kingfish have been gone for the most part for the last month and a half, except for a few stragglers that hold on deep water wrecks along with a few permit, wahoo, blackfin tuna, mahi, and the occasional sailfish.

Look for bluewater big game fishing to heat up as the Loop Current moves closer to our shores over the next couple of months or so. Highlighting the phenomenon will be the Old Salt 54th Annual Loop Billfish & Offshore Fishing Tournament, August 4th – 9th, 2025.

37th Annual Ladies Inshore/ Offshore Fishing Tournament

Never count the ladies out of fishing. The Old Salt Fishing Foundation will host their 37th Annual Ladies Inshore/ Offshore Fishing Tournament this weekend, June 19th and 21st, benefiting the Celma Mastry Ovarian Cancer Foundation. On the 19th, the event kicks off at the Holiday Inn & Suites Harborside at 401 2nd Street in Indian Rocks Beach when they roll out the Teal Carpet for the Gala Ladies event with cocktails, dinner, silent auction, and raffle from 6 pm to 10 pm. The fishing is on Saturday, June 21st, beginning at 12:01 a.m. The weigh-in starts at 4 p.m., but anglers must be in line by 5 p.m. to weigh their fish. An awards ceremony will follow. For registration information and more, go to the Old Salt website.

INSHORE

This has been a good week with a variety of fish being caught. Along the beaches, anglers have caught a few pompano as well as whiting in the surf using Doc’s Goofy Jigs. Some impressive snook have also been caught in the trough in the surf where water meets sand, and in some cases, where a second shoal out beyond the shoreline, snook have been caught there as well. Jigs like the CAL Shad and MirrOlure Marsh Minnow that resemble glass minnows are working well. Colors such as the #308 glow/holographic belly and #382 clear/holographic in the 3” CAL Shad and the Marsh Minnow Jr in colors MRMMJR-18 (Pearl) or MRMMJR-1 (Opening Night) imitate glass minnows well.

Mangrove shorelines hold a variety of species, including black drum, speckled trout, snook, redfish, and mangrove snapper. Live shrimp works for all, but on hot days, cut pinfish, small live pinfish, and whitebait will also work.

Trout fishing has been good and steady in most areas, with good numbers being found in depths on the flats ranging from 3 to 7 feet of water. A variety of lures have been putting good numbers of fish on the table for those looking for a fish dinner. One lure that I have found exceptionally productive lately is the MirrOlure C31MR-Mullet color, jointed swim bait. This lure targets the strike zone where these fish have been holding in potholes on the flats, and the edges of channels and drop-offs. A straight retrieve or one with occasional twitches is both deadly effective. The hooks are light wire and incredibly sharp, so penetration requires little to no hook-set to catch trout, just continuous pressure and a tight line using a light to medium light action rod. Light line is best with either 5-to 8-pound test braid or 6 to 8-pound test mono.

Schools of Spanish mackerel have made their way far up inside Tampa Bay as they follow bait schools. Almost all channel markers hold baitfish pods and will typically hold mackerel to 4 pounds or more, but the average size will be around 2 to 3 pounds. Flashy spoons and jigs retrieved quickly will nearly always get hit. Light wire leader can help prevent cut-offs from the mackerel’s razor-sharp teeth, but it will cut down on the number of bites you get. Using mono leader testing 30-to 40-pound test will help minimize this, as will jig heads that utilize a long-shank hook along with a soft plastic tail.

Anglers getting out for tarpon are finding fewer fish, and the catching is a grind since the full moon. A good number of fish left the bays and beaches to head offshore to spawn. After a couple of weeks, we can expect to see many of these fish returning, but most will have shed some pounds in the spawning process as they dropped their roe. Regardless, these fish will be ravenous upon return and will head for the groceries.

Nearly any type of structure, rock pile, hard bottom, or reef inside the bays is holding mangrove snapper right now. Most will average about 10 to 12 inches in length, with a few over, but they are tasty. In lower Tampa Bay, over hard bottom, black sea bass are available and can be caught on jigs bounced on the bottom. I use a quarter oz. chartreuse jig head and CAL #308 glow 3” shad tail or a DOA 3-inch shrimp with 10-pound braided line and 25-pound test Ande Backcountry leader. On occasion, you’ll also hook a gag or even a red grouper in these areas. It’s rare, but I’ve also caught juvenile Goliath grouper as well.

It's a good time during the heat of the day to crank up the outboard motor to move and cool off. One of the things I enjoy doing is running and gunning for tripletail. I’ll hit as many channel markers, range markers, or swim buoys as possible with the time I have to target these fish. I’ll have two or three rigs made up on spinning rods with 10-to 15-pound test braid and a 25-pound test leader. One rig will have a DOA Deadly Combo rig with an oval float and a 2 ½ foot leader attached to a DOA Shrimp. Another rig will have the same Deadly Combo Rig with a DOA 3/8 oz. TerrorEyz tied on, and the third will have a DOA Shrimp with no float. Many times, if I don’t see a triple tail on or around the structure, I’ll throw the shrimp and let it sink. Fish will rise to eat it if they are there. Using the float rigs, you can cast up current or upwind and allow the float to carry the shrimp or TerrorEyz jig to the structure or swim buoy where many of these fish love to hang. A legal-sized fish is 18 inches minimum, and they are sure tasty.

FRESHWATER

Heavy downpours of rain this past week are quickly filling local retention ponds and area lakes. There is usually a bit of erosion off the banks around the edges of these lakes where worms, crickets, spiders, and other insects live and can get washed into the lakes. Overhanging trees that hold spiders, ants, and other insects will see these bugs dropping into the water as well. This is like a smorgasbord for bluegill, bass, and even frogs that live in these lakes and on the lily pads and vegetation. If you’re a bass angler, it’s a great time to go froggin’. Topwater frog lures are known to attract some big bass. They are weedless and work up inside some heavy cover without hanging up where big bass lurk, looking to eat a big frog. An assortment of panfish are also on the prowl for a bite to eat in the shallows. Slurping up a struggling spider on the surface makes a telltale sound when a bream flares their gills to suck down a tasty morsel. The time-tested cane pole is perfect for doing some panfishing. It’s unassuming, simple, and cheap. It’s perfect for the newbie to learn with and rewarding when the line tightens and the pole bends when a fat bluegill, stumpknocker, or other panfish gets sideways to the angler. A split shot, a tiny #8 long-shank light wire hook, and a length of 4-pound monofilament line tied to the tip of the pole and just a foot or so longer than the pole are all you need to get in on the action. Bait and tackle shops sell earthworms, red wigglers, grubs, and crickets. Just pick one and take a kid fishing. You’ll love the smiles, and they will love the action, and don’t forget to bring a camera to save the moment. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

June 13-15 Report

Coming off this past Wednesday’s full moon tides will still crank into the weekend, making for some decent action for anglers fishing for ambush predators, like snook, flounder, and possibly tarpon that will line up to feed on weedlines carrying crabs. This Sunday is Father's Day. Take dad fishing! 

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

Red snapper season kicked off with a bang last week, and anglers fishing aboard charter boats with federal permits are finding some great action in the Gulf of America. A good variety of fish have been caught. Mangrove, lane, vermilion, and yellowtails are some of the other snappers being caught on trips from nearshore ventures out to about 140 to 150 feet.

Pelagics haven’t been the hot ticket lately, but a few blackfin tunas, scattered kingfish, and some schoolie dolphin, along with a few cobia, have been caught. Bottom fishers are finding good numbers of fat red grouper to catch and take home.

Triggerfish are closed June 1 through July 31st. During open seasons, anglers may possess one fish measuring 15 inches to the fork or the tail with a closed mouth.

Occasionally, black seabass are caught, and usually it’s over hard bottom. These delicious fish have a minimum size of 10 inches with a 100-pound limit. Greater amberjack reopen September 1st, but almaco jacks are still being caught.

With warming weather, the hogfish bite has slowed in nearshore waters. Most that continue to be caught have come from depths beyond 80 to 100 feet of water.

INSHORE

With this past week’s full moon, you’re likely to find fewer tarpon in the bays and along the beaches, but this has been a banner season to date for multiple hook-up days along the beaches. Many fish will head out into the Gulf to spawn and should return in the next few weeks, looking a lot thinner.

The full moon in June normally kicks off the spawning period for bay shrimp. Some bait shops may begin seeing fewer numbers of larger hand-picks available for a while until the remaining Pee Wee shrimp grow up. But the bait situation just about everywhere has been good with loads of scaled sardines and threadfin herring showing up inside Tampa Bay and along the coast to the south and north. This availability makes it a bit tougher on artificial bait users, but anglers working at it will always return with dinner on the cleaning tables. Recently, I have found the MirrOlure 27MR18 MirrOdine to be a dominant hard bait for snook and redfish, while trout have been absolutely slamming a bait from MirrOlure that they introduced a few years ago, but has largely been ignored, called the Pro Series Broken Back Swim Bait, a.k.a. the CM31MR. I’ve had some tremendous success with this lure in the mullet color while fishing it in 3- to 5-feet of water around East Beach at Fort DeSoto and in parts of Bunces Pass. It has brought in, on average, mostly upper slot trout, with fair numbers being over the 20-inch top of the slot. In some cases, I have caught two fish on the same lure at once with the double treble hook rig. The fine wire hooks make this an exceptional lure for trout in that the light wire hooks offer excellent penetration with very little hook-set, and minimal tissue damage when fish are to be released. Medium to light action 7 ½ foot rods with 8-to 10-pound braided line make this a deadly match for trout.

Good action with redfish and a few nice snook has been the norm from Weedon Island north along the western Tampa Bay shoreline to the Bayside Bridge. Most anglers in the area are using whitebait for snook, trout, and reds there. But during the afternoons, fishing the shady side of the mangroves with cut pinfish, ladyfish, or mullet for redfish has kept rods bent.

Terra Ceia anglers have done well with snook and redfish around Joe Bay, Rattlesnake Key, and around Palmetto Point. Gus Point inside Terra Ceia Bay is holding some decent trout on the drop-offs around 3 to 5 feet of water.

Sarasota Bay around Long Bar has been productive for redfish for anglers fishing CAL Jigs with Shad tails and DOA Shrimp under popping corks for trout south of Sister’s Keys.

FRESHWATER

Capt. Angie Douthit of www.southfloridabassfishing.com has been producing some stringers of monster bass down south in Lake Okeechobee. The “Big O,” as some refer to this lake, is known for some of the biggest largemouth bass in Florida, if not the southeast. Capt. Douthit and her clients have been keying in on these big bass using big soft plastic worms. Some anglers like using live wild shiners, but Douthit says with the lake level being down, there are more chances of snagging bottom and structure with sinkers and rigs. But still monster bass are chewing through at least the end of this month, traditionally. Angie says bring the kids for a blast catching crappie in the early morning or late afternoon, or big bluegills on ultralight spinning rods for max fun and huge grins. Plus, at the end of the day, a cooler full of tasty fish will be heading home for dinner.

Douthit can recommend local hotels that offer her clients deep discounts, as well as restaurants that will cook your catch. Book your trip now with Capt. Douthit for a memorable time on the water at one of the top bass lakes in the country. Contact her through her website or call (863)228-7263. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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June 6-8 Report

This past week has seen some overcast skies and rainy days that have had a positive effect on fishing in the shallows. Water temperatures have fallen from the low 90s down to the mid-80s in many areas. Tides for the weekend will be on the slower side with the quarter moon we’re on, but things will begin picking up by Sunday with the full moon just ahead next Wednesday. Fishing during the major and minor solunar periods will be beneficial. Getting out fishing has been tough for some, waiting for the weather window to open. Hopefully, it will be clear by the weekend.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

If you were one of the lucky anglers to get offshore this week, it’s been a banner opening week of red snapper fishing for those for-hire vessels that are federally permitted. State waters will have red snapper, but the bulk of the larger fish are out beyond 9 miles. The big issue was wind and weather. Rain squalls blanketed areas offshore, with anglers trying to escape building seas and strong winds. Before the winds picked up and rain came down, the fish were fired up. Red snapper, red grouper, mangrove snapper, and some scamp grouper were caught along with yellowtail, lane, and vermilion snapper.

The 39-hour trip out of Hubbard’s Marina at John’s Pass in Madeira Beach this week was a wet one for part of the time. Despite soggy conditions, the weather cleared out during the daytime, allowing anglers to get to the rails and put some big dead and live goggle eye baits down to catch some nice red snapper, big red grouper, scamp grouper, yellowtail snapper in 200-feet of water, and mangrove snapper. Conditions didn’t allow for trolling for pelagics, but the rest of the trip had bent rods for most anglers.

Congratulations to Capt. Dylan Hubbard and all the folks with Hubbard’s Marina for being named the top charter boat in the country for the 4th year in a row!

INSHORE

Next Wednesday’s full moon will likely see plenty of action around the beaches and passes with snook spawning. Catch and release fishing, while it is a blast, should be done with deliberate care, with the release in mind before the landing. For a photo, try to keep the fish in the water until the cameras are ready. Handle minimally, supporting the belly and fish in a horizontal position. Use circle hooks when using natural baits to help avoid gut hooking fish. Be sure the fish is ready to swim away before releasing it. Dolphin and shark predation has become an issue, so handle with care and be aware of these threats.

Mangrove snapper, while lots of larger mangos will be caught offshore in deep water, will be available inside most of the bays on hard bottom, structure, and artificial reefs. Night fishing on the full moon and the days leading up to and after should produce some good action. The average size to be expected inshore will typically be between 10 and 16 inches. Many of the larger fish will be fat and preparing to spawn.

Trout action took a jump up over the past few days with several days of overcast skies and rainfall cooling area waters. The water temperature in Tampa Bay has dropped about 8 degrees since last week in many areas of the bay. You’ll still find some spots with dark, muddy bottoms that will be warmer, and some cooler where there is shade or light reflecting bottoms. Deeper grass flats in Sarasota Bay, Tampa Bay, and from Clearwater Harbor to Anclote Key have seen good numbers of larger trout being caught. Lower Tampa Bay has seen some gator trout coming from 20+ foot depths over some hard bottom areas south of the Skyway Bridge. Quarter-ounce or 3/8-ounce jig heads with a MirrOlure Marsh Minnow, CAL, or similar soft plastic shad tail have been attracting some specks in the mid-to-upper 20-inch range.

Redfish action has been good in the mid and upper areas of Tampa Bay. Hard bottom areas with oyster bars have been hot spots for reds. Mangrove-lined shorelines with overhanging branches producing a shady area have been holding spots during the day for some larger redfish. Cut pinfish and ladyfish have been working well for these fish, as has Berkley Gulp! fished as a dead stick bait.

Weedon Island has seen some pretty good action with snook and redfish recently after the rains. Christmas Pass has given up some redfish, while the south end near Bayou Grande has had good snook action.

The South Shore of Tampa Bay, up inside the Little Manatee, has had a variety of fish being caught. Snook, trout, redfish, jack crevalle, flounder, black drum, and juvenile tarpon are being caught around the bridges at US 41.

Tarpon fishing is in full swing, and the next week or so will see some of the largest tarpon brought to the boats fishing for them before they head offshore to spawn. Some may have already left for the Gulf of America for the annual event, but the full moon should kick it in high gear.

91st Annual SUNCOAST TARPON ROUNDUP

This year’s tournament benefits Mote Marine & Task Force Dagger. The all-release format kicks off with the captain’s meeting on July 11th, with fishing beginning July 12th through the 16th. The Finale Day Tournament captain’s meeting is July 17th, with fishing on July 18th. This is a 100% payback tournament. For more information, go to www.suncoasttarponroundup.org.

FRESHWATER

Some relief in the form of rainfall this week refilled retention ponds and cooled area waters, invigorating bass and panfish. The bite around most shorelines turned on big time with heavy rains washing insects into the water and bringing frogs out to take their shot at bugs. This is a great time for fly fishers to cast popping bugs for these fish. Bass anglers will do well froggin’ with topwater frog lures. Get the kids and head for your closest lake and get in on the action. Don’t forget your freshwater license. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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May 30 Report

Moving away from the new moon, anglers have seen some good action with tarpon late in the afternoons and very early in the morning. Good trout and Spanish mackerel action has been noted in much of the region, with reports of some great catch-and-release action with snook. Increasing chances of thunderstorms for the weekend could be on tap. Stay tuned to updated weather reports and be sure to leave a float plan before you get on the water.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

Red snapper season reopened on Sunday, June 1st. The boats running out of Hubbard’s Marina at John's Pass, both private charter boats and party boats, are geared up and ready for both red snapper and red grouper that are open at the same time! If it’s a meat trip you’re looking for, this is the time to do it. Mangrove snapper have been very cooperative.

Triggerfish will close in June and July. There are lots of opportunities offshore to catch fish. Porgies, almaco jacks, blackfin tuna, a few wahoo and kingfish, yellowtail, vermilion, lane, and mangrove snapper have been chewing hard. A few mutton snappers are being caught. I’m betting we won’t see much more action from kingfish with this rising water temperature, but you may find some on deep water wrecks. Spanish mackerel are still around in good numbers. The “Ditch” or Egmont Ship’s Channel has been holding bait schools that are attracting mackerel. Southwest Channel off Egmont Key has held some tarpon and some cobia. Nearshore artificial reefs are holding a few flounder.

Red grouper fishing has been good starting at about 80 feet, with bigger fish between 120 and 150 feet.

Water temperatures in the Gulf have been warm, running between 82 and 84 degrees. Deeper water is producing better for most species, other than mangrove snapper. I’d expect to hear about some reports with mahi soon, along with permit.

INSHORE

The new moon this past Tuesday has made some dark nights and good opportunities for anglers fishing dock lights and bridge fenders for snook, trout, and redfish. From Venice, in “Snook Alley” all the way to Anclote Key, anglers have been seeing loads of big snook pouring out of the passes and onto the beaches. Anglers to the south, from Manasota Key to Longboat Key, have been doing a lot of morning beach-walking and finding plenty of snook in the surf and catching them on fly rods. It’s best to beat the heat and sunbathers as the sun rises. Sight-fishing is easier as the sun rises, but you will have to remain aware of the shadow that you cast with the sun at your back if you’re fishing from shore to the first trough on the beach. As the sun rises higher, your shadow gets shorter, making it less likely to spook fish.

Anglers working up inside Tampa Bay along the South Shore from Joe’s Island to Ruskin have found some pompano skipping on the edges of the sand bars just inside the manatee poles. Doc’s Goofy Jigs with the teaser in yellow/ white color combination have been catching some pomps there along with some nice trout in 3- to 5-feet of water.

Redfish have been active near the mouth of the Manatee and Little Manatee Rivers late in the afternoon and evening, around the last two hours of the bottom of the tide. They have been hanging on the outside edges of the flat in potholes along with some snook. Shad-style soft plastics like the MirrOlure Marsh Minnow Jr. and CAL Shad from DOA Lures have been exceptionally productive in colors with glow. Flounder are also being caught in the sandy potholes here.

Anglers fishing up in the Little Manatee River around the US 41 bridge in Ruskin are finding some juvenile tarpon, black drum, mangrove snapper, redfish, snook, and sheepshead around the bridges.

FRESHWATER

Bass fishing inland has been good around Winter Haven, Lake Alfred, and Lake Manatee. Lake Tarpon has seen good action with bass in the 5-to-6-pound class for anglers using live shiners fishing around shorelines. If you work at it a little bit, bluegill fishing has been steady just about everywhere. Live wigglers, crickets, worms, and grass shrimp have been the natural baits of choice. For fly anglers, small foam spiders in black and white have been productive, along with worm imitations and small poppers. Fishing for panfish can be as simple as using a cane pole, a small bobber, a tiny split shot, and a hook. Ask almost any angler who has fished for a long time, and most will tell you they cut their teeth fishing with a cane pole when they were a kid. Take a kid fishing. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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May 23-25 Report

This Memorial Day weekend will be one of the busiest boating weekends of the year on the water. Inshore anglers will have a lot of competition trying to find some solitude on the flats away from other pleasure boaters. As a rule, I consider this weekend like New Year’s Eve on the water. There will be a lot of amateurs on the water and at the boat ramps, all wanting their ‘space’. Impaired boaters will be under scrutiny by law enforcement. Don’t drink and drive. They’re a deadly mix.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

It’s red snapper time! Just in time to get away from the mattering crowd inshore…you’ll possibly be joining the mattering crowd offshore. The 2025 Gulf recreational red snapper fishing season will be open for 126 days, divided between summer and fall opportunities. The summer season will open for Memorial Day weekend (May 24-26), then reopen daily from June 1 through July 31. The fall season will be open daily from September 1-14, then shift to weekends only (Friday – Sunday) for the remainder of the year. Special holiday opportunities will occur on Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. This season applies to recreational anglers fishing from a private vessel in Florida Gulf state and federal waters. For-hire charter operators without a federal reef fish permit may also participate, but are limited to fishing in Florida Gulf state waters only.

Red grouper fishing has been excellent, with some scattered reports of some hogfish still being caught in nearshore depths. Most of the reported hogfish have come from depths greater than 80 feet. There will still be some fish in shallower water, just fewer numbers and smaller sizes. Mangrove snapper fishing has been on fire. The new moon on the 27th of the month will make for some bigger tides that can affect anchoring, but with GPS trolling motors, holding on some good numbers is a much easier way to cover good spots. Most motor brands offer a “spot lock” feature that will hold the boat on a given GPS coordinate. A mix of lane, vermilion, mangrove, red, yellowtail, and an occasional mutton snapper are being caught.

Depths beyond 120 feet are producing some blackfin tunas, a few wahoo, some mahi mahi, and some straggler kingfish that continue moving northward. The triggerfish bite has been good.

Permit have been caught, mostly around artificial reefs, structure, and wrecks offshore. Small crabs are top live baits, but cut clams also get the nod. These fish will show more frequently as they prepare for their summer/ fall spawning period. Fly anglers also target permit for one of the top angling challenges ever.

Tarpon continue to dominate the beaches and nearshore areas from Boca Grande north to Anclote Key. A lot of fish have been jumped or landed.

INSHORE

Good numbers of snook are in the swash channels around barrier islands, and on the beaches as they prepare to spawn. The upcoming new moon on the 27th will bring an opportunity for this, so you’re likely to find good concentrations of spawning-sized snook in or near the passes and within a few hundred yards of the passes inside and out.

Tarpon fishing has been hitting some heights this month, with lots more action to come. Reports up and down the coast have been excellent. Capt. Ryan Harrington of St. Petersburg reports multiple hook-ups on every trip, with some days running into double digits. Hot areas have been Bunces Pass, Fort Desoto beaches, East Beach, Pass-A-Grille, Egmont Key, Southwest Pass, Passage Key, Bean Point, and the beaches off New Pass and Siesta Key. The full moon week produced some hot action, and we should see a repeat this next week on and around the new moon.

Capt. Bucky Goldman of Bag ‘Em Charters in Wesley Chapel reported some excellent action in the upper Tampa Bay area for snook, trout, and redfish. Catches of each have been consistent. He also reported some great action with Spanish mackerel and some silver trout.

FRESHWATER

It won’t be long before the summer daze is with us. It’s that time between spring and the summer doldrums. We haven’t quite hit the rainy season yet, but with every southerly breeze, we have just enough humidity to make things uncomfortable. I’m sure fish must be thinking somewhere along those lines, too, as water temperatures have been climbing into the upper 80s in retention ponds and shallow lakes. This allows anglers to hit the lakes either early or late for the best bite. Live shiners are putting some big bass in the boats on Lake Tarpon. Anglers fishing Lake Manatee are finding some good action with bass, catfish, and bluegill. It’s a great time to be on the water. Whether it’s to bring home dinner or just to reflect on how good we have it here in this amazing country. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

MEMORIAL DAY

Honoring the fallen soldiers and all who proudly served to protect and keep us out of harm’s way, yet never made it home. It’s a somber day to remember those who gave their all so we may continue to live free. God bless America.

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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May 16-18 Report

With Memorial Day weekend right around the corner, and with National Safe Boating Week, May 17-23, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will offer free safety checks on your boats during that time frame at many of the local West Marine Stores. To find a participating store, click here.

The weekend ahead will see a waning moon as we come away from this past Monday’s full moon. As a rule, night fishing this time of year can mean bonus fish if there is a clear sky, especially if you’re targeting mangrove snapper. But many different species, both inshore and offshore, will put on the feed bag.

OFFSHORE/NEARSHORE

Monday’s full moon might have normally created a bright sky, but for many areas in the region, cloudy skies dominated, leaving only the gravitational pull on the Earth to create the major and minor feeding cycles on fish that have an effect on how they feed. For many anglers, the morning following a full moon can be somewhat of a grind with a dark sky on a full moon night. The following afternoon’s outgoing tide can be the hot tide to fish.

Tarpon fishing has been good along the beaches from Boca Grande to Tarpon Springs, according to reports. A good flush of crabs late in the afternoons each day on the outgoing tide has been ringing the dinner bell for tarpon. At the same time, with anglers targeting tarpon, there is also a heavy influx of sharks that are now moving into the bays and along the Gulf beaches. If you’re one of those anglers preparing to release a tarpon, be aware that big bull sharks and some hammerheads have been in the area. Fish that are tired from a long fight might not have the energy to revive themselves before a shark finds them and invites them for dinner. With that said, spending an extended amount of time with a tarpon boatside, reviving it should be done with extra care using long-handled release tools. Putting your hands into a tarpon’s mouth to pose for a photo could result in a lost hand, arm, or life. I’m not an advocate of cutting the line to release fish, but when necessary, cutting the line close to the hook will give the fish a chance to dislodge the hook on its own and with a safe release.

Sharks have become more of an issue when releasing many species of fish over the years. Just as Goliath grouper will snatch your snapper from your line while trying to reel one in, sharks have also been a problem when trying to successfully land fish in offshore depths. Predation is becoming more prevalent.

• FWC offers best fishing practices for tarpon.

The 2025 red snapper fishing season for vessels with a federal for-hire reef fish permit is 107 days in federal waters of the Gulf. The season for federally permitted for-hire reef fish vessels will open at 12:01 a.m., local time, on June 1, 2025, and close at 12:01 a.m., local time, Sept. 16, 2025. Anglers who are preparing for the red snapper season will find plenty of these fish while targeting mangrove snapper beyond 100-foot depths. Again, predation from Goliath grouper and sharks can be an issue.

This has been said to be the year of the snapper, according to old salts who have been targeting the various species of snappers over the years. We rarely used to catch mutton snapper until the past couple of years, this far north. Changing conditions in the Gulf have allowed these fish to move farther northward with warming waters. Currently, offshore anglers are catching vermilion, lane, yellowtail, mangrove and red snappers. The abundance and variety are welcoming and take some of the pressure off other species that are being targeted.

Capt. Brian Morgan, of Captain Morgan’s Fishing Adventures, reported some great action on the Gulf for anglers recently running offshore. A 45-pound cobia was landed along with some hefty red grouper, fat mangrove snapper, a Goliath grouper, and a variety of other species were caught. Anglers fishing 10-hour trips are filling the fish box.

Anglers fishing well offshore on the party boats out of Hubbard’s Marina at John’s Pass continue to load the boat with a variety of snappers. Good numbers of red grouper are being caught with some scamp grouper and gags that are released.

Capt. Dylan Hubbard out of Hubbard’s Marina at John’s Pass reports on their weekly adventures offshore and nearshore, and what a great week of fishing anglers had on their party boats. Limits of red grouper, triggerfish, vermilion, lane, yellowtail and mangrove snappers have all been in the catch. Porgies, Spanish mackerel, kingfish, some blackfin tunas, and the occasional wahoo have rounded out the catch, along with a few others. Mahi mahi should be showing up just about any time now, along with sailfish.

INSHORE

Snook along the beaches have produced some great action for anglers tossing jigs and flies in the surf. Take that to areas just outside the passes for some top action. Live shrimp, pilchards and a variety of artificial lures will get the job done. The beaches from Manasota Key north to Anclote Key have all seen good action with snook. Pompano have been running in the surf and around the jetties as well. Anglers able to find sand fleas have a good shot at these fish, but the true die-hards are still tossing Doc’s Goofy Jigs in the surf and along sand bars in the bays.

Just outside John’s Pass, Bunces Pass and Blind Pass, anglers are finding some whiting running just off the beaches in these locations. The flats around Egmont Key produce some flounder, speckled trout and some cobia. The Ship’s Channel northwest of Egmont is holding cobia, kingfish, Spanish mackerel and good numbers of tarpon.

Redfish have been actively feeding around Master’s Bayou near the Gandy Bridge as well as around Weedon Island. Christmas Pass in that area has been a hot spot at times on rising water for redfish.

Grass flats in lower Tampa Bay are producing good action with spotted seatrout. Anglers throwing CAL Jigs with shad tails are doing very well with trout up to 24 inches in Palma Sola Bay, Terra Ceia and Joe Bay, along with both snook and redfish. The South Shore has seen plenty of action for anglers looking for snook, trout and redfish to complete an inshore grand slam.

FRESHWATER

Rising water and air temperatures will begin slowing the action in some smaller lakes and retention ponds. However, heavy rains early this week did make for a temporary cool-down in some of these lakes. Bass and assorted panfish were actively feeding around the shorelines as an assortment of bugs were washed off the bank and out of overhanging trees. Crickets, worms, ants, as well as frogs that were also there to feed, provided enough incentive for bass to also get in on the action. Anglers tossing frog-type lures found good action, especially early in the mornings and late afternoon/evening periods. Pay attention to the major and minor solunar periods for times of the best action. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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May 9-11 Report

Leading up to next Monday’s full moon will have tides running stronger than much of the rest of the month, making for great fishing for ambush predators like snook, flounder, trout and others.

Pelagic action is on the rise with blackfin tunas, wahoo, cobia, and a few others.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

Lane snapper have been biting in depths ranging from 60 to 90 feet of water off Pinellas. Mangrove snapper have been mixed in with the variety of other snappers being caught from inshore to deep-water offshore areas, and particularly in 110 to 120 feet. Some of the largest mangrove snapper have been coming from depths of 120 to 160 feet, along with some yellowtail snapper. An occasional mutton snapper has been caught on some of the long-range trips out of Hubbard’s Marina on their party boats. Vermilions, lanes, mangos, muttons, yellowtails, porgies, almaco jacks, triggerfish, red grouper, scamp grouper, blackfin tunas, kingfish, Spanish mackerel, wahoo and cobia have all been caught. Some red snapper have also been caught and released.

The hogfish bite has slowed in nearshore waters due to rising water temperatures, but move out deeper for better catches of these tasty fish.

The 2025 Gulf Red Snapper season has been announced. Season dates:

• May 24–26
• June 1 – July 31
• September 1–14
• Fall Season: Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through the end of the year — including Thanksgiving and Christmas.

INSHORE

This might not be the best spring season snook bite ever, but there are plenty of fish around. Some areas in the region have been reporting some ultra-clear water situations, putting off the bite. Live baiters chumming will see chummers attacked without hesitation, but stick a hook in a bait, and the fish turn away. Your choices are limited at the point, but downsizing leader pound test usually helps, but you can also lose a trophy snook if it wears through in a prolonged fight.

There are times when snook may be found, but they just do not eat. This might be a time when a topwater lure such as the 94MR18 or 94 MR21 MirrOlure Top Dog can entice a bite. These spring fish can be very hungry after winter cold, and warming conditions can trigger appetites. The nature of snook is similar to that of a junkyard dog. Both are territorial and protect their space. When a topwater lure with the walking action of these lures is cast repeatedly to one of these fish that refuses to eat but also refuses to leave the area it is in, the irritating plug cast in its territory will most times trigger the kill response in the fish. You can tell this by how this fish is hooked after it strikes the lure. Fish that strike to eat will strike with their mouths. Those that strike to protect their territory will most times be foul-hooked in the side of the gill plate or even in the tail. A slow-motion video of this kind of strike will show the fish turning on the lure and slapping it with its broad side or even its tail. Areas around Fort DeSoto have been holding snook. The front side of the North Beach in the shallows on the outside bar, as well as the inside bar, can hold snook if there is no boat traffic. An early arriving angler, especially a fly angler, equipped with an 8-weight fly rod with a weight-forward fly line and a white Clouser Minnow, can catch these unsuspecting fish if a low profile is kept when approaching the shoreline. Casting into the trough that meets the beach is typically where you’ll find these fish. The full moon on Monday, May 10 will see some good action early in the morning if the night sky is dark on Sunday. But perhaps the best action might be on the rising moon in the evening or the setting moon just before sunrise.

Redfish have been found in fair numbers scattered in the lower half of the region, with the South Shore of Tampa Bay near Ruskin holding some nice reds. Cockroach Bay on an incoming tide can be very productive, as can areas around Joe Bay and Terra Ceia. The Bulkhead at the mouth of the Manatee River is a hot spot at times. To the north, anglers fishing Anclote Key and south to Ozona will find good action with redfish.

Trout action has been steady with some larger trout in the upper slot and over being caught in Sarasota Bay from the Ringling Flats to Long Bar. Anglers tossing DOA Shrimp to reds and trout around the bar can get bit without hesitation since even a wary redfish will find the soft landing of the shrimp irresistible.

Schools of Spanish mackerel are attacking bait pods inside Tampa Bay and around the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Piers. The Gulf Pier at Fort DeSoto will also see good numbers of these fish, as well as some schooling pompano. Mackerel have been hitting Diamond Jigs and Clark Squid Spoons rigged on 40-pound test mono leader to help prevent cutoffs. Pompano have been crushing Doc’s Goofy Jigs in pink and white and yellow and white colors in 3/8 oz. sizes.

Tarpon are cruising the beaches. Position yourself in their paths and anchor for shots at catching these fish. Don’t chase them.

FRESHWATER

Small lakes and retention ponds are beginning to heat up as we see spring getting closer to summer. Shady spots under boat docks and around overhanging trees and heavy vegetation will be top spots for lazy bass trying to keep cool. Live shiners can take some big bass this time of year.

Kids with cane poles bring back a lot of memories of my youth while fishing up on the Chassahowitzka, Homosassa, and Withlacoochee rivers. I was barely able to hold a cane pole at about 3 years of age, but I managed to cut my teeth while catching bluegill and the occasional bass on those cane poles with big earthworms impaled on # 10 long-shanked bream hooks. Those were simple times back then, and gear was about as simple as it gets. But things don’t have to change that much to catch fish. Kids don’t need a high-tech fishing rod; just a simple cane pole. Give them a pole and a cup of worms and watch them smile and entertain themselves for hours while instilling a family tradition that will rarely be broken. ‘Til then…take a kid fishing, and I’ll catch ya later!

CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DAY

This Saturday, May 10, starting at noon, Fisherman’s Ideal Supply House is having a grand reopening since their hurricane remodel. Raffle prizes, food, and drinks will be provided, it with some terrific bargains to be had. The shop is located at 750 East Welch Causeway in Madeira Beach. Come join in on the fun and catch some great deals!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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PREVIOUS REPORTS

May 2-4 Report

The 32nd Annual Spring King of the Beach Kingfish Tournament is in the books, and snook season is closed until September 1st. I can’t say we’ve had much in the way of rain this month, as we are close to 8 inches in deficit so far. In that vein, I have no clue if there will be any May flowers.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

Don Vinning and Team Seaside Fire Protection managed to smoke a smoker kingfish in the 32nd Annual Spring King of the Beach Kingfish Tournament in the Overall Division to take the tournament crown and the top cash prize by weighing in a 43.19-pound kingfish. Good numbers of 30+ pound kings were weighed in by the fleet of over 400 boat entries. The top Spanish mackerel in the tournament went to Ecake with a 4.57-pound Spanish mackerel. A tournament first in the history of the KOTB this year was a team that landed a king closest to 20.25 pounds. Each year, anglers try to catch a kingfish closest to the year of the tournament. It was Dough Maker with a king that was right on the money at 20.25 pounds to take home the dough in that division, sponsored by Owens & Sons Marine Inc., a custom aluminum trailer valued at approximately $10,000. It was Vernon Bonnell's Team Bandit that won the Single Engine Division, sponsored by Suzuki Repower Mastry Engine Center, with a 41.53-pound king. Bennett Bonnell of Team Bandit also scored the top spot in the Youth Division with a 21.64-pound king. For the Ladies Division, presented by Reel Girl, it was Julie Cubrich of Team Snapper Addict with a 27.31-pound king for the win. Robert McGirr of Team Memory Maker scored the win in the Traveling Angler Division, presented by Lithium Battery Power, with a 38.76-pound king.

It wasn’t a tournament entry in the King of the Beach Tournament, but one team brought an impressive wahoo to the scales to check the weight that tipped the scales at over 77 pounds!

If you didn’t take advantage of some tripletail fishing while the stone crab traps were in the water, the closure of stone crab season on May 1st will have the traps disappearing from Gulf waters, eliminating their mini habitats for trips to hang on. These fish will find other flotsam to hang around and feed. Many local anglers will hit the beaches and run the swim buoys, looking for some of these fish. Live shrimp suspended under a cork with a 2- to-3-foot leader will get the nod if a fish is there. Small jigs like the DOA TerrorEyz and artificial shrimp will also take these fish and can be suspended under corks. Bell buoys, channel and range markers are also places to check for tripletail, or cobia, whenever they are holding bait schools. Spanish mackerel will also stage up around these areas to feast on scaled sardines and threadfin herring.

Red grouper continue to keep rods bent for anglers working in the 120- to-160-foot depths along with mangrove snapper, vermilion, and lane snappers. Some red snappers are being caught and released as well.

Hogfish action is slowing down as the water temperature rises.

INSHORE

Snook have become more active since last week’s new moon. With no weather change and a steady barometer, these fish have been on the move toward the passes and mouths of rivers closer to and on the beaches. There will be many intercept points from the river and creek mouths that run across the flats and sandbars with points and potholes that will have good water movement to hold these hungry fish as they prepare to head into the spawning mode.

Some excellent action at night around dock lights and bridge fenders has been reported from Sarasota to Clearwater for multiple species of fish. Most commonly found in the dock lights now are trout, snook, redfish and hardhead catfish, but usually, wherever you find catfish, you’ll also find juvenile tarpon. I’ve had some great success with juvenile tarpon fished around the dock lights while using DOA Shrimp in the night glow color. This is a bit early for the juvies to show but once the rains start, more of these local micro ‘poons will head out of the rivers and creeks.

Trout fishing remains steady, with a few over-slot fish being caught and released. Most over-slot fish will be females, and many will also have roe in preparation to spawn. Trout are prolific spawners and can produce millions of eggs per year, yet just a small percentage of them actually grow to adult fish. Biological data show that these fish could spawn as many as eight times per year. The exceptionally large trout are potentially genetically superior and should be released with as little handling as possible to enable them to reproduce.

Scattered reports of redfish are throughout the region, with some areas of good localized concentration. Perhaps the top spots in the region might be in an area from Anclote Key to St. Joseph’s Sound, Cockroach Bay, and a few areas from Terra Ceia to mid-Sarasota Bay. On hot days with higher tides, cut ladyfish seem to be the most productive when fished under the overhanging mangroves. Anglers dead-sticking Berkley Gulp! Shrimp have seen similar action while fishing the edges of swash channels around oyster bars and mangrove islands. Typically, the northwestern points of these islands will see some deeper holes, and with mangrove cover providing shade, can be the go-to spot to hit. We are still about 3 or 4 months away from an influx of breeder-sized red drum moving in from the Gulf.

Spanish mackerel have been caught around most of the channel markers inside the mouth of Tampa Bay. Most are concentrated wherever you find bait schools. You can locate roaming schools by watching for bird activity and diving birds on showering bait schools. Occasionally, you’ll find skyrocketing kingfish in the mix, usually in the deeper cuts inside Tampa Bay.

Tarpon action has been good along the beaches and around the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Fish will be found along the beaches from Siesta Key north. Some areas around Fort Desoto off the North Beach area at Bunces Pass will hold pods of ‘poons feeding on threadfins and other types of forage. The shallows off Passage Key and Bean Point have been holding some schooling tarpon.

FRESHWATER

Warmer weather is pushing bass up under all types of cover that provides shade and cooler temperatures. Fishing under overhanging trees and boat docks might be go to spots in the afternoons. Early morning frogging with a variety of frog lures fished around vegetation and shorelines can be very productive for bass in the 2 to 4-pound class. Fly anglers fishing with poppers or sliders on a 5-weight fly rod will also see good action. Smaller fly selections like worm or cricket patterns tied on smaller hooks ranging from #4 to #8 sizes will be able to do double duty with both bass and bream. As technical as fly fishing seems to be, even youngsters at the age of 4 or 5 can learn to fly fish. Practice, as with any sport, is key to becoming proficient. Many of the local fly fishing clubs offer free instructions at their monthly meetings, and certified fly instructors within the clubs can offer lessons for even the advanced fly anglers for a modest fee, which can include the use of fly tackle, instruction booklets, videos, and more. A few of the local fly clubs are Mangrove Coast Fly Fishers in Sarasota and Suncoast Fly Fishers in St. Petersburg.

Regardless of how you fish, it’s always a great day on the water, and an even better one when you take a kid fishing. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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April 25-27 Report

This Sunday’s new moon will have the tides cranking. Inshore anglers can capitalize on the fact that ambush predators will be staging up around points and structures that create a break in the current and form eddy pools where baitfish and other prey are swept with the current. Knowing these areas will give you a shot at some amazing action.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

Anglers pushing well offshore to depths ranging from 140 to 180 feet of water fishing out of Hubbard’s Marina found good action with some big red grouper, mangrove, yellowtail, vermilion, and some mutton snapper this past week. Porgies, almaco jacks, and some triggerfish were also caught along with a few pelagics to round out the action on their 12-hour Extreme trips and 44-hour long-range trip. The Gulf of America water temperatures are right for the majority of fish that anglers are targeting right now. The upcoming new moon should also trigger a good bite for a variety of fish, including snappers, red grouper, kingfish, and mackerel.

Speaking of kingfish and Spanish mackerel, this Thursday night, April 24th, the Old Salt Fishing Foundation hosts the 32nd Annual Old Salt Spring King of the Beach Tournament, held out of Roc Park at 200 Rex Place in Madeira Beach. The three-day-long event kicks off with the captain’s meeting, team check-in, and registration on Thursday night. Friday, at 5 pm. The Kid’s Fishing Slam and Community Party is scheduled, and on Saturday, the Tournament Fishing starts with lines in the water at 6 a.m. Boats may bring fish to the scales beginning at 3 p.m., but must be in line to weigh in fish by 5 p.m. The day ends with the crowning of the King of the Beach. The awards ceremony and payouts are on Sunday, ending another great spring kingfish tournament.

Anglers dragging hardware (spoons, jigs, plugs, etc.) for kings and Spanish mackerel can find constant action with these fish. Big kings might be better targeted with live bait, slow trolling with blue runners, smaller Spanish mackerel, or ladyfish. Light single strand coffee colored wire leader is a must for these fish to prevent breakoffs. Most anglers use stinger rigs consisting of multiple hook rigs that are hooked in the mouth of the bait and continue toward the tail to prevent short-striking fish from missing getting hooked.

INSHORE

Good action should be on tap for anglers from Sarasota to Hernando Beach with the new moon approaching this Sunday. Good water flow will be the key to catching ambush predators like snook, trout, and flounder. Live pinfish on the high tides pitched up under the mangroves will entice a hungry redfish, but for mid-day warm water, a cut bait might be better for lethargic feeders. Jigs and shrimp are also rarely ignored. The soft plastic DOA Shrimp can be skipped up under the bushes easily, and the single hook that rides up helps avoid much of the structure. Fishing the edges of mangroves on the incoming tide with a 17MR MirrOlure MirrOdine has been a top choice for many anglers since the lure was introduced over a decade ago. The success of this lure has been so great that many manufacturers have tried to duplicate it.

Snook will be hanging around most passes, both inside and outside, and along the beaches. Jigs are my go-to lures most of the time in these locations. Jigs that imitate the size and forage in the area work well. Shad-style soft plastics such as the CAL 3-inch Shad, rigged on a quarter-ounce jig head, are a regional favorite along with the MirrOlure Marsh Minnow and Marsh Minnow Jr.

Flounder seem to be where you find them, but some of the largest being caught recently have been on nearshore artificial reefs and artificial reefs on the inside of the bays. Mud minnows, live shrimp, and jigs are all baits that these fish don’t hesitate to eat. As for lures, it’s a must to fish these lures slowly and on the bottom. A slight twitch of the rod when using a jig will create a small puff of sand when bounced off the bottom or dragged.

With so much live bait around inside the bays and along the beaches, there’s hardly a place that you won’t find fish to catch. Targeting areas with good water flow and shade might be the top thoughts when searching for productive honey holes this weekend.

Tarpon anglers have been gearing up for over a month now, and each week another wave of tarpon seems to show up along our beaches. The Sunshine Skyway Bridge is a top spot for these fish, as is Bean Point off Anna Maria and Point of Rocks near Siesta Key. With super clear water along the coast from Bradenton south, the area becomes a mecca for sight-fishing anglers looking for a silver king. Fly fishing might be an art of its own, but purists will opt for the long rod and challenge day in and day out.

FRESHWATER

Bass spawning is about over everywhere around the Suncoast, but anglers are gearing up for the “small fry”. Panfish anglers are coming out in droves to fish for bluegill, bream, red ear, stump knockers, crappie, and more. There are numerous names and species for these plentiful fish, with several ways to catch them. Live baits include worms, grubs, crickets, grass shrimp, and Missouri minnows, depending on which fish you choose to target. None of these fish are necessarily considered difficult to catch, but they always offer a challenge to novices and youngsters looking to wet their feet in the sport of fishing. It’s the perineal optimist's sport, teaching patience, sportsmanship, and conservation along with environmental lessons. It’s the perfect opportunity to take kids fishing and educate them on the challenge as well as the importance of conservation and fun in the sun that makes Florida the Fishing Capital of the World. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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April 14 Report

Last week’s warming temperatures sent schools of baitfish toward the Suncoast and just in time for anglers hunting for Spanish and king mackerel that followed the bait.

OFFSHORE/NEARSHORE

The Egmont Key Ship Channel leading into Tampa Bay has been covered with scaled sardines and threadfin herring, the favorite forage of many different species that live and migrate to the Tampa Bay area. Mix in some ladyfish, glass minnows, Spanish mackerel and blue runners, and you have a virtual smorgasbord to attract one hot kingfish bite.

One of the first kingfish tournaments of the season, which is also one of the longest-running kingfish events in the area, the 32nd Suncoast Kingfish Classic, ran last weekend out of the SkyBeach Resort in south St. Petersburg with some impressive results despite some blustery weather conditions. As with many of these tournaments where inclement weather is part of the game, not only do anglers need to know where bait and the fish will be, but they will also need to consider the conditions for their vessel’s ability to handle rough weather. Local knowledge can be a huge asset, along with experience. Experience showed that many of the top anglers in the tournament chose to fish inside Tampa Bay. Veteran angler and long-time kingfish enthusiast with this tournament, Ryan Farner, commented, “Many of the anglers fishing this tournament tucked up inside Tampa Bay and found their fish in ‘G’ Cut.”

Anglers from years ago said the same thing when conditions were similar. Local knowledge can go a long way. The largest kingfish brought to the scales was caught by Adam Major, weighing 41.10 pounds. In addition to kingfish, Spanish mackerel were part of the tournament, and the largest Spanish, weighing 3.97 pounds, was brought on board the Polar Express with Daniel Condron at the helm.

Next up is the 32nd Annual Old Salt Spring King of the Beach Kingfish Tournament, to be held out of ROC Park at 200 Rex Place in Madeira Beach, April 24-26. This year’s event could draw over 500 boats. For information, go to oldsaltfishing.org.

Boats making the long haul offshore with the Hubbard’s Marina party boats have some banner catches again of mangrove snappers, some big red grouper, a variety of other snappers and groupers, as well as a wahoo. Other pelagic fish like dolphin and blackfin tuna should be around as well this time of year.

INSHORE

Trout continue to take the limelight even on last Sunday’s full moon. Live shrimp or soft plastics under popping corks have produced good, consistent results on the northern reaches of our region in St. Joeseph’s Sound, Dunedin, Palm Harbor and Ozona. Some areas reported good snook action inside the passes, but last Saturday’s blow might have slowed things a bit, churning up the water. Light winds are predicted for the weekend, and we’ll still see some residual moving water coming off the full moon this past Sunday. Snook were still in backcountry areas around Cockroach Bay and Joe Bay. With water temperatures ranging from 74 to 76 degrees, topwater lures, primarily under lower light conditions, will be hard to beat. I’ll chuck the MirrOlure 94MR18 MirrOlure until the cows come home because it always produces for me.

On the beaches, whiting, silver trout and some pompano have been caught from Pass-A Grille to John’s Pass by anglers tossing the quarter-ounce Doc’s Original Goofy Jig in yellow and white colors. On the drop-off in 14 to 20 feet of water out of Blind Pass, anglers caught some upper slot fish on the Doc’s Goofy Jig there as well.

A few scattered spots are holding some redfish. Cockroach Bay, Joe Bay, Terra Ceia and Palma Sola Bays have been productive with gold spoons and DOA CAL jigs with shad tails. A few scattered trout were caught just off Long Bar in Sarasota Bay in the deeper grass beds as well as the Ringling Flats.

FRESHWATER

Wherever you find some late spawning bass, you can catch them using the Yamamoto Senko rigged wacky style. Working the lure in the grass beds is sure to turn on a fired-up protective male on the beds, enticing him to eat. Activity on most area lakes and ponds has been steady, with good numbers of bass being caught along with some stringers of bluegill. Both have been caught on Roadrunner jigs and spinnerbaits. It’s a great time of year to be on the water since temperatures are still very pleasant. Fish are active, keeping even the youngest angler busy. Take a kid fishing. Take a kid fishing. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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April 11-13 Report

Unsettled weather at the beginning of the week, ushering in a cold front, brought heavy winds, creating turbidity in inshore and nearshore waters. Breezy conditions should subside by Sunday, along with rising temperatures. This Sunday’s full moon will have some tides moving that might help clean up the water by the first part of next week. A slight dip in temperature from this front might slow things down, such as snook moving to the beaches to spawn or kingfish moving northward in their migration. A warming trend might just negate this brief cool-down.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

Looking into the weekend, we might have some cooler temperatures on tap, with winds starting to lay down by Sunday night. The reopening of the fishery beyond 120 feet for red grouper produced some fair results last week, but “fishing was a little soft,” according to Capt. Dylan Hubbard out of Hubbard’s Marina at John’s Pass. Pelagic fish will show offshore with some kingfish. Increasing numbers of kingfish are being caught. Just two weeks remain until the 32nd Annual Old Salt Spring King of the Beach Kingfish Tournament. With that in mind, many anglers may find themselves on the water locating bait and schools of kingfish while following the migration of these fish.

Not much in the way of blackfin tuna, mahi, or wahoo are showing yet. Scamp grouper are being caught. Good numbers of triggerfish, mangrove snapper, and vermilion snapper have also been in the mix.

Lane snapper have been caught in nearshore waters along with mangrove and vermilion snapper. Look for the mango bite to steadily improve nearshore and into inshore waters over the next month.

INSHORE

For those who have found some honey holes out of the wind this week, you were probably looking at some pretty stirred-up water outside of those sheltered areas. Anglers tossing cut fresh bait found some decent redfishing around the South Shore of Tampa Bay near Cockroach Bay and Piney Point. Snook have been coming out of the backcountry, and a few have made their way closer to the passes with the water temperature increase. The temperature was 78 degrees on Monday in some Tampa Bay locations, but that will likely drop a bit as the cold front passes through on Tuesday and into Wednesday.

One of the top spots for some larger trout seems to be around Anclote Key and south to St. Joseph’s Sound. Noisy topwater lures that can churn up the surface make it easy for hungry fish to home in on the lures, even in harsh conditions. The classic 5M MirrOlure is one of my favorites for this scenario, particularly if the water has a ripple, a slight chop, or is chalky or muddy-looking from the turbidity. This is a lure that I’ve had excellent success with for decades. Some good reports of over-slot trout have also been coming from the Sarasota Bay area on a long stretch from New Pass to Longboat Pass.

Black drum and sheepshead are still actively feeding around bridges and jetties. Live shrimp and blanched sand fleas have been the top-producing baits.

With the full moon coming up this Sunday, you can count on finding some snook moving toward the passes. They may hold up on the temperature drop and keep from moving out to the beaches, but they are beginning to stage up for spawning, and the full moon could trigger this.

Pompano and whiting have been caught in the surf from Pass-A-Grille to John’s Pass. Anglers using shrimp, DOA TerrorEyz, and the Original Doc’s Goofy Jigs are catching pompano up to 16 inches in length.

Flounder have been caught near Fort Desoto’s North Beach by anglers throwing jigs. Just about any jig works as long as it’s worked slowly and in contact with the bottom. Quick twitches of the rod will create a puff of sand, attracting these fish and enticing the bite.

FRESHWATER

This week’s cold fronts and Sunday’s full moon should invigorate bass, bluegill, and other freshwater species, encouraging them to chew. Early risers can take advantage of a bite that typically fires up around sunrise. Topwater walking baits, buzz baits, prop baits, poppers, and chuggers can all be effective in the right locations. Working edges of weed beds, subsurface structures, and boat docks can pay big time. As the sun rises, spinnerbaits and crankbaits can become quite productive. Lures such as the Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap are terrific for schooling bass and trigger strikes with their vibration and sound. The floating model in the line can be deadly when thrown around potholes. Twitch and pause stirs interest that bass can’t resist. Few lures are more entertaining than a topwater lure, where you can visualize the strike. Kids love watching it. If you have kids or neighbors who do, invite them to go fishing with you. You’ll be glad you did. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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April 4-6 Report

Near-record-breaking temperatures could push snook out of their winter haunts onto the flats by the weekend. Slower tides will make you work a little harder for them. Offshore anglers should have a field day catching mangrove snapper up and down the coast in various depths from 30 feet and beyond.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

Anglers fishing near shore are finding a good variety of fish. Lane and mangrove snappers, hogfish, grunts, some undersized red grouper, tripletail, a few scattered Spanish mackerel, and even some snake kingfish thrown in the mix. One odd report this week was from some anglers who said they were catching pompano in 30 feet of water west of John’s Pass. A combination of baits was used for these fish, but they started with live shrimp. After the first couple of pompano, they switched to Doc’s Goofy Jigs in one-ounce sizes and caught several more to about 19 inches in length, along with a few mangrove snapper, grunts and porgies.

Offshore anglers were eager to hit the water headed beyond the 120-foot depth that just reopened April 1st for red grouper. While anglers had been catching keeper red grouper between 80 and 120 feet, much larger “fire trucks” were available beyond the 20 Fathom Curve.

Warmer days with light easterly winds will bring bait schools into the beaches and bays. This will attract Spanish and king mackerel and some other nearshore species to feed on the artificial reefs and wrecks. Just outside of Tampa Bay, the Egmont Shipping Channel, often referred to as “The Ditch,” offers good water depth for a multitude of species looking to find a suitable water temperature as well as food. Bait schools pile up in this area, bringing cobia, Spanish, and king mackerel, mangrove snapper and black seabass in with the tide to feed.

Southwest Channel, just south and east of Egmont Key, will hold tarpon now and throughout much of the summer, as well as the other species mentioned. In time, as the bait schools move up the bays, they will stop and hang around channel and range markers as well as buoys. This also brings tripletail inside the bay to feed. An early morning stop at each marker or buoy to take a look for a tripletail could mean some fantastic fish on the grill tonight.

Hard-bottom areas west of Bradenton and Emerson Point will hold mangrove snapper and black seabass, as well as some big trout. Be alert for tarpon as well, so be sure and bring the heavy artillery in the event the game shifts to big game fish.

INSHORE

Big trout continue to bring headlines. They aren’t everywhere, but some of the largest of the species tend to be loners and stay away from the crowd as well as schooling trout except when they find them as forage. Fringe areas that are travel lanes from the shallows to potholes and channel edges on the falling tides will see these big trout move to feed on small trout. The TT Series lures from MirrOlure are classic slow-sinking lures that perfectly imitate this food source that gator trout inhale. Most trout in schools are of similar size and year class. So, if you’re on a school of undersized fish, be sure to crimp down barbs on hooks for an easier and safer release for the fish. The crimped barbs on hooks will minimize release mortality as will reduced handling only with wet hands.

Snook have really fired up this week with the exceptionally warm weather and rising water temperatures. Early in the week, snook exploded on live shiners and topwater lures early in the day. Capt. Rick Gross of Bradenton got on a school of snook, reds, and big trout this week and had non-stop action and left fish chewing.

Just about sunrise, anglers throwing walk-the-dog lures such as Zara Spooks, MirrOlure Top Dogs and Berkley Cane Walkers will find some hot action with feeding fish. Redfish, big trout and snook are the three primary species that will fire up on these topwaters. The motion of these lures entices snook even when not in a feeding mood. Repeated casts to snook when sight fishing will usually draw strikes, but not out of hunger and more out of a territorial effort. In areas where smaller baitfish are present, the MirrOlure Duke Dog has been one of my top-producing surface baits. It’s about the size of a medium-sized pilchard and has a similar profile. As the sun rises higher in the sky, the suspending MirrOlure MirrOdine has been one of my top-producing lures. By regulating the speed of retrieve, I can control the depth I fish with it. When mullet schools are around, I like throwing either the DOA Shallow Running Baitbuster or the CAL 3-inch Shad rigged on a quarter-ounce jighead. At midday on a high tide, I love skipping the DOA Shrimp or the MirrOlure Lil’ John up under overhanging mangroves for redfish and snook.

Pompano have been skipping along the edges of sandbars inside Tampa Bay. The Clam Bar and the long bar from Joe Bay to Port Manatee have held these schooling fish. The original Doc’s Goofy Jig or the Doc’s G3 with the attached teaser fly have been top producers.

FRESHWATER

Local lakes, rivers, and retention ponds are heating up with the spring and summer-type weather we have been having. Look for the daylight hours to move fish to find cover from direct sunlight. Heavy vegetation, boat docks, deep water, and overhanging trees are all refuges for fish from the heat during midday, but come dusk, it’s game on again as the sun disappears over the western horizon. Buzzbaits, frogs, and noisy topwaters are some of my favorite lures at night, and even some of the vintage lures of old, such as the Fred Arbogast Jitterbug, and more recent lures like the Smithwick Devil’s Horse, and the newer Berkley Choppo will produce excellent results. Newer isn’t always better, but sometimes a slight difference in sound, vibration, or profile is just enough to trigger a curious strike from a wary fish.

Dig out some of that old stuff your grandpa had and give it a try. ‘Til then, I’ll catch ya later

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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March 28-30 Report

This weekend’s new moon will have a positive effect on tides for inshore anglers. Mangrove snapper fishing has been off the charts in nearshore waters. With some decent weather, this could be a great weekend for fishing.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

There’s a buzz going on about mangrove snapper this week. Normally, the average size mango caught in depths out to about 60 feet of water have been in the 3-pound class, but reports have been coming in about some giants in the 10-plus pound class being consistently caught here. These larger mangrove snapper are usually out beyond 100 feet of water. Captain Dylan Hubbard, out of Hubbard’s Marina at John’s Pass in Madeira Beach, said, “We’ve been out there every day—and let us tell you, the mangrove snapper bite is the best we’ve seen in a while, both nearshore and offshore. These fish are aggressive, stacked up, and biting like crazy on just about everything we throw at them. Whether you’re hopping on a 5 or 10-hour trip close to shore or going deep on a 12 or 39-hour adventure, we’re seeing solid mangoes hitting the deck. They’re fun to catch, fight hard, and they’re absolutely delicious on the grill.” So, for times like this, certainly a sick day might be in order or a day of hooky from school.

Nearshore waters continue to hold up plenty of hogfish. Grunts, porgies, triggerfish, red grouper and a variety of snappers have been coming from 60 to 80 feet of water. Red grouper have been closed seaward of the 20 Fathom Curve, or 120 feet of water. But that closure ends with the reopening of the area on April 1. Typically, larger red grouper will come from beyond the 120-foot mark. With a strong snapper bite added to big red grouper, I’m betting there will be a flotilla on the water when the area reopens.

A few scattered reports of pelagic action have been noted west of the Bradenton/ Sarasota area with blackfin tuna, wahoo, a few dolphin, permit, and cobia.

INSHORE

Inshore waters have been seeing a lot of action lately on the warmer days. Capt. Dave Blanchard of Pumpkin Jig fame has been leading clients to some great catches of redfish out of the Ozona Fish Camp. He's been kicking it out a bit, too, for some grouper action.

Big trout have been showing up in upper Tampa Bay recently. Capt. Bucky Goldman reported clients catching some specks up to 24 inches on his charters recently using whitebait. It’s been slim pickin’s in many areas of Tampa Bay for snook, but the South Shore from Cockroach Bay to the Manatee River has been holding plenty of snook and some nice redfish. Schools of pilchards are showing up, bringing in small waves of smaller Spanish mackerel near the mouth of the bay and out near Fort Desoto.

The piers at Fort Desoto have been holding good numbers of pompano, with anglers finding limits of these tasty fish hitting the Original Doc’s Goofy Jigs in both 3/8 and ½ ounce sizes in yellow and white.

FRESHWATER

Bluegill fishing seems to be taking off around the region, with many lakes and retention ponds firing up. Red wigglers and crickets are the go-to baits in many areas, but grass shrimp rule on the Braden River in Bradenton. Foam spiders in black with white legs have been deadly tied on #10 hooks. Get the kids in the neighborhood and get them on the water. You’ll be glad you did. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

CB’s Saltwater Outfitters Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing School- April 5, 2025

CB’s Saltwater Outfitters, 1249 Stickney Point Rd, Sarasota, FL, will hold an Orvis-Endorsed fly fishing school on Saturday, Apr 5, 2025. Instructor, Capt. Rick Grassett will cover basic fly casting principles, saltwater fly fishing techniques, fly selection, leader construction, and wind casting. The cost for the class, which will run from 8 AM to approximately noon, is $225 per person and includes the use of fly tackle and a workbook. Optional instructional guided fly fishing trips are also available for an additional fee. Contact CB’s Saltwater Outfitters at (941) 349-4400 to make reservations.

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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March 21-23 Report

Celebrating the first week of Spring might be tough with a cold front and blustery days. Better days are ahead.

Heading into the first quarter of the moon phase, slow tide days will be ahead. Ambush predators like snook, trout, flounder and others will have to work a little harder for food since there won’t be a strong current to flush food to them as easily. Being at the right place at the right time will make the difference between a successful fish-catching day and a lot of casting with few results.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

We have some good weather days predicted for the first part of the week but again; another front may be upon us sometime this week, perhaps on Thursday or Friday that could affect your plans. Cooler temperatures Thursday night through Saturday morning with some breezy conditions beginning on Thursday might help to figure into your plans for the weekend.

Hogfish continue to be the most notable catch near shore and in some cases, offshore as well. Good numbers of hogs continue to be caught from depths ranging from 40 to 80 feet of water. Patience is key with these fish as they seem to sit back and watch other fish chew baits dropped to the bottom until they have had their fill. Then hogfish move in to feed, so if you are getting bit but not by hogfish and you’re dropping live or fresh dead shrimp, have patience. Mangrove snapper will hold up a bit at around 10 to 15 feet above the bottom.

A variety of snappers, a few carbos, scamp, and red grouper have been in most fish boxes coming from 120-plus feet. Almaco jacks, porgies, and triggerfish have also been in the catch. Offshore water temperatures will be cooler than those in nearshore depths. It could contribute to a slower bite right now.

A few reports of some scattered mackerel being caught outside of passes on the outgoing tides and inside on the incoming tides from Sarasota to Bunces Pass were noted, but the nearshore waters only registering about 66-to 67 degrees are still a bit cool for these fish as well as kingfish. Look for the migration of these fish to the south headed our way soon.

INSHORE

It’s been somewhat of a mixed-bag catch this week inshore. Water temperatures have played an important part of the catching equation with low water temps in the mid-60s and the upper-60s for highs in most areas. Shallow areas with dark muddy bottoms have been the first to see temperatures rise. But if you’re fishing anywhere close to the Gulf passes on the incoming tide, water temperatures will be at a low point for the bay. Typically, I have found a slower bite there, however, trout and flounder have been mostly available in these areas. To the north, around Ozona, redfish have been actively feeding along with upper slot trout. Live shrimp have been effective for both. We had consistent action using the DOA Deadly Combo, a clacking cork rig with a DOA Shrimp suspended under about a 2-foot leader.

Snook fishing has been slow in most areas I have fished near the Gulf. With incoming fronts and cooler nights many of these fish have retreated to deeper areas with slower currents.

The redfish bite has been hit-and-miss for many anglers fishing in Sarasota Bay and parts of Tampa Bay. The areas with consistent action for reds have been Cockroach Bay, Terra Ceia Bay, Palm Harbor, Ozona and Anclote Key.

Along the beaches, anglers have been catching whiting in the surf, and silver trout out to depths ranging from 15 to 20 feet of water. Most anglers have been using live shrimp for both. Pompano fishing has slowed down a bit with a few still being caught on DOC’s Goofy Jigs around the Pass-A-Grille Channel and the rock jetties at John’s Pass.

FRESHWATER

Expect a little slower action this weekend with bass. Most of the spawning activity has slowed. There is a variety of panfish that are great fish to target now around the shallows. Many areas are accessible to anglers from the banks of lakes and rivers while fishing with long cane poles or extendible rods like crappie rods. Live crickets, red worms, or grass shrimp are all good natural baits. Use a 4-to 6-pound test mono with a small split shot and a #8 or #10 size hook. I prefer a long-shank hook for ease of hook removal. These fish are ideal for kids to learn to fish. Take a kid fishing. You’ll never regret it. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

IT'S TOURNAMENT TIME

• Chad Day Memorial 7th Annual Fishing Tournament and Charity Event
• April 5-6, 2025
• The 7th Annual Chad Day Memorial Fishing Tournament is a 1-day inshore fishing tournament.  The captain’s meeting starts at 3:00 pm on Saturday, April 5th.  Pictures are to be submitted by 2:00 pm Sunday, April 6th.
• Proceeds benefit the Tidewell Foundation
• $7,000 in prize money
• Entry fee $320 for up to 4 anglers (includes meal)
• For registration & details visit https://chadday.profishingtournaments.com/
• The tournament event will be held out of 7150 Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL. 34243
• Boat dock: East at Marker #16
• (941) 228-5012

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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March 14-16 Report

The full moon this weekend could play some tricks on fish-catching, particularly in the morning if the night’s sky is clear. Fish will feed heavily at night on and around full moons with a bright night sky. Many times, if this is the case, fish will feed later in the afternoons following a bright moon.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

Settling seas and lighter winds with a warming trend for the weekend can make for a great time to be heading offshore. Some don’t care to fish around a full moon (on Friday), but others make hay while the sun shines. Picking weather windows sometimes doesn’t give you an option. We may have a chance of passing showers on Sunday, but that’s what foul weather gear is for, as long as it’s not too sporty for your boat or your level of skill as a captain.

The hottest species right now on the nearshore scene and marginal offshore depths continues to be hogfish in the 40-to-70-foot depth range, although red grouper action is a close second just a bit farther out. A plethora of different fish are being caught. Scamp, carbo, red grouper, tripletail, triggerfish, porgies, and a few others were in the catch. Mangrove, yellowtail, vermilion, and even a few mutton snappers have also been in the fish boxes. Gags consistently have been caught and released.

Bluewater action is beginning to heat up with a few blackfin tunas showing up. Wahoos have been reported in the 100-to-120-foot range southwest of Pinellas. The permit should be showing up on the offshore wrecks just about any time now.

Spanish mackerel have been showing up sporadically and will come in waves as they migrate to the north. Watching reports from our southern Action Spotters might give you a clue of when to expect some action. But if you’re on the water, a show of bait schools will be the best signal that it’s ‘on’.

INSHORE

Headed toward this Friday’s full moon, the morning and late afternoon falling tides might see the best action from ambush feeders like snook, trout and perhaps flounder. Redfish have been somewhat scattered except for a few areas on the south shore of Tampa Bay and near Ozona. Some of the largest spotted seatrout continue to be caught up around St. Joseph’s Sound north of Clearwater.

Anclote Key has some deep grass flats producing some big trout on tandem rigged jigs like the DOA Deadly Tandem. Double hook-ups are a definite possibility, making filling a limit quickly. Catch and release fishing for trout can be fun, but because they are fragile, getting into schools of these fish can be harmful to them even if they are released unless barbs on hooks are pinched down or filed off. If fishing barbless, all that’s needed is keeping a tight line and a bent rod on the fish. Light action rods will produce the best results for trout fishing.

Snook fishing has been improving by the day with warmer weather on tap. Water temperatures have been on the rise, and the action has gone up with it. On the warmest parts of the day, the 5MR21 MirrOlure has taken some huge trout. This prop bait excels when the water has a slight chop or a heavy ripple on the surface and in conditions where the water is turbid.

Tripletail action has taken a slight upturn along the beaches and just inside some of the bays where channel markers or crab traps are located. Keep a sharp eye on these spots for signs of these fish lazing near the surface. A well-placed shrimp or soft plastic artificial can get slammed.

The mouth of Tampa Bay has seen schools of Spanish mackerel moving in and out of the bay. Most have been following schools of scaled sardines and threadfins.

On those windy days when hardly any boats leave the dock, we’ve seen sheepshead action turn super hot. Fiddler crabs might be the go-to live bait, but live shrimp can also work for these timid chewers. I’m guessing that this weekend’s full moon will be the final bout of spawning for sheepshead this year. Bridges will hold loads of sheepshead as well as black drum.

A couple of reports of black drum spawning on the Clam Bar south of Pinellas Point were reported in the past week, but nothing like they normally are. I think the masses of fish that we normally see have not yet arrived.

Early season tarpon have shown up in the backcountry waters, working their way out of the creeks and rivers. Most are juveniles but are a blast to catch on fly rods.

FRESHWATER

The last of the spawning crappie might be chewing this weekend as we approach spring. There are still some bass bedding in most areas. Working shorelines with soft plastic worms and creature baits will give you the best opportunity to catch some larger bass. Bluegill and shellcrackers can be caught on red wigglers and crickets. Some folks use grass shrimp if they can get them.

Find a nice sunny day, pack a lunch, and take a kid fishing. I’ll never regret it. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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March 7-9 Fishing Report

Last Friday’s new moon brought some mixed results for inshore anglers. But overall, fishing was good. Water temperatures remained in the mid- to upper-60s. The nearshore scene remained constant with good action.

A mid-week cold front brought rain and breezy conditions. After the frontal passage, cooling temperatures moved in for Thursday, and more of the same should come on Friday, dropping inshore water temperatures. There is a chance of rain again on the weekend with a warming trend into the 70s, so keep your foul weather gear at hand.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

Nearshore anglers have found some good action with hogfish in about 60 feet of water. A mix of smaller mangrove snapper, grunts, tripletail, porgies and some smaller red grouper were also caught nearshore.

Captain Morgan’s Fishing Adventures had a great report before the weather moved in this week, catching a good variety of fish. In the catch were a few mutton snapper, a carbo (black) grouper, some nice gags that were released, some very nice scamp grouper, and limits of red grouper. Captain Brian Morgan runs out of Marine Max in St. Petersburg and can be reached for bookings at 813-516-9365 to book your next fish-catching adventure!

Deep-water fishing for pelagic fish has been good when anglers can get out, but the recent weather windows have made it tough to get out between fronts and all the wind. Blackfin tunas, a few wahoo, kingfish and cobia have been caught.

INSHORE

The yo-yo temperatures in area waters have been up and down for the past couple of weeks. The extremes have ranged from the low 60s to low 70s inshore. It’s tough to get on a pattern when temperatures swing that much in a short period of time, but still, trout fishing has been the most reliable. Anglers fishing to the north from Clearwater Harbor to the north end of St. Joseph’s Sound are finding some gator trout. MirrOlure HeavyDines have been constant producers, as have the 17MR MirrOdines and MirrOlure Lil’ Johns. Redfish action has been good around Ozona, Palm Harbor, upper Tampa Bay, Cockroach Bay, and around the Mouth of the Manatee River. Jigs with CAL Shads and DOA Shrimp have been effective for both snook and redfish around the region.

A few pompano have been caught lately on Doc’s Goofy Jigs but fish have scattered since the blow at mid-week, making it tough to get on them consistently.

The ICW from Sarasota to Indian Rocks has been productive for trout. Anglers fishing jerk baits and shad-style bodies on jigheads have been catching good numbers of fish, some taping out over the max slot size.

Areas inside John’s Pass have been productive for spotted seatrout, silver trout and whiting. Anglers reported catches of silver trout in about 20 feet of water outside the pass using live shrimp and jigs.

FRESHWATER

Many lakes and retention ponds are still seeing some bass spawning. Good action in the shallows around the beds for anglers fishing with creature baits like lizards, DOA SnaKoils and 10-inch worms in June bug, purple and black colors. Crappie have about concluded their spawn, but you’ll still find some fish schooling in some of the deeper lakes like Tarpon up in Pinellas and Lake Manatee down in Bradenton. Bluegill will be up next and spawn throughout much of the summer months. Red worms, crickets and grass shrimp are some of the best baits for bluegill, but if you’re a fly angler, tons of action can be had on 3- to 5-weight fly rods using some foam spiders, cricket imitations or worm imitations. It’s a great time to get out and an even better time to take a kid fishing. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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Feb. 28-March 2 Report

Friday’s new moon will stir up some tides making for much lower lows and perhaps some higher-than-average tides. Consider wind direction and velocity when heading into shallow backcountry areas if the tide is up when you head in. Getting back out might pose some issues depending on the draft of your vessel.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

Breezy conditions and heavy rain at times put a damper on fishing plans for some anglers looking to get offshore at times this week. But Capt. Brian Morgan of Captain Morgan’s Fishing Adventures out of St. Petersburg at Marine Max had some exceptional action well offshore. Black grouper, red grouper and scamp grouper were all caught along with some nice mutton snappers. Despite the sporty weather, anglers stuck it out and managed some fantastic fishing for some big fish.

On some recent trips aboard Capt. Steve Papen’s Fintastic Fishing Charters out of Madeira Beach anglers have been catching some fat mangrove snappers, monster wahoo, hogfish, and assorted grouper. Boats making it out beyond 120 feet have seen good action with blackfin tunas and a few kingfish.

INSHORE

Coming up on this Friday’s new moon, anglers will see fair weather and lighter winds before the weekend is upon us. Warmer weather should make for some productive fishing for snook that have been poking out on the edges of the flats near the mouths of creeks and rivers. Big gator trout ranging from the mid-to-upper-20-inch range have been caught around lower Tampa Bay by anglers fishing MirrOlure MirrOdines and Lil’ John Purple Demon colored jerkbaits.

Redfish have been chewing in and around Cockroach Bay and upper Tampa Bay from Rockey Creek to Safety Harbor on the northern shore. Gold Eppinger Rex Spoons have been productive as have CAL Jigs with Shad tails and DOA Shrimp. Live shrimp fished under popping corks have been catching an assortment of trout, reds, and a few snook around Weedon Island and in Riviera Bay.

Along the Intracoastal Waterway from Indian Rocks to Dunedin, excellent catches of trout and redfish have been reported. Black drum have been caught on the Clam Bar around Pinellas Point and the bridges of Tampa Bay. Trout catches up in the Ozona area to Anclote have been very good with good numbers of over-slot fish being caught along with plenty of reds.

FLY FISHING SCHOOL

CB’s Saltwater Outfitters Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing School- March 8, 2025

CB’s Saltwater Outfitters, 1249 Stickney Point Rd, Sarasota, FL will hold an Orvis-Endorsed fly-fishing school on Saturday, March 8, 2025. Instructor, Capt. Rick Grassett, will cover basic fly-casting principles, saltwater fly-fishing techniques, fly selection, leader construction and wind casting. The cost for the class, which will run from 8 AM to approximately noon, is $225 per person and includes the use of fly tackle and a workbook. Optional instructional guided fly-fishing trips are also available for an additional fee. Contact CB’s Saltwater Outfitters at (941) 349-4400 to make reservations.

FRESHWATER

Crappie action continues as bass spawn in many areas and finish in others. Male bass guarding nests in the shallows around lake perimeters are easy targets for anglers flipping or pitching creature baits like lizards, salamanders, and the DOA SnaKoil. It’s a good time to work the shallows for some big fish. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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Feb. 21-23 Report

Weather patterns have taken us and our fisheries on a roller-coaster ride over the past week, taking air temperatures from the 80’s down into the upper 40’s and low 50’s in other portions of the region. Water temperatures in the gulf have ranged from about 63 to 69 degrees and in Tampa Bay from 75 down to 64 degrees. Unstable conditions have kept fish inshore on the move making targeting them more difficult. Fishing should normalize with more stable conditions.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

Finding that right weather window for most offshore anglers to get out has been tough lately with incoming cold fronts and windy conditions dictating angler’s fishing options. Most who have been out have opted for a short trip fishing inside state waters for hogfish, red grouper and some mangrove and lane snappers, porgies and white grunts. On the few nice days we have had, fishing beyond the 100-foot mark has seen some banner catches of fish. Reports of pelagics like blackfin tuna, a few cobia and wahoo and even some catches of kingfish were noted. But the big catches have come with some big black grouper; big red grouper were caught between 100 and 120 feet. Gags were caught and released. But some nice scamp grouper were also caught along with a few mutton snapper and some nice mangos.

INSHORE

It’s been a tough week to be consistent with air and water temps up and down and wind churning up the bays. But for those who were persistent, some decent sheepshead were caught, some redfish and good numbers of trout from north Sarasota Bay to Cockroach Bay. On the Pinellas side, some upper-slot trout were caught around Dunedin along the spoil islands and as far north as Anclote Key. Capt. Jimmy Huddleston's charters have seen some great action with snook, trout and redfish. MirrOlure TTR26 slow-sinking lures and 17MR MirrOdines were productive along with Paul Brown Devil blanks rigged on EWG worm hooks in the areas between Dunedin and Anclote Key.

The threat of red tide to the south from south Sarasota to Naples has been bad and, in some cases, high concentrations of the algal bloom has been killing fish. Anglers fishing in nearshore waters out to 3 or 4 miles are reporting floating dead fish. The south wind that blows prior to Wednesday’s front moving south may push some of that red tide bloom northward. Low concentrations of it were reported near the Sunshine Skyway but not concentrated enough at the time to kill fish. This, however, could move fish to other locations in their attempt to avoid the bloom. In short, you might find that they just won’t eat no matter what you throw at them.

Prior to the last cold front, snook began heading out of backwaters in some areas and moved to the mouths of creeks and rivers, but a strong front could push these fish back into deeper waters closer to springs and deep bends in the rivers.

Heavy rains at mid-week could move fish again, so when the weather clears, be prepared to do some looking around to locate concentrations of fish.

In south Pinellas around the Clam Bar in lower Tampa Bay, schools of black drum were reported. The area is one that traditionally will see a spring spawn of black drum concentrating on the flats there. Cut blue crabs and live shrimp are the preferred baits for these fish.

FRESHWATER

By no means are fish done spawning. Bass continue to spawn in many areas of our region. Anglers flipping creature-style baits to bedding fish will have good success. The incoming cold fronts could affect the bite this weekend, but speckled perch continue to do their thing in deeper water depths ranging from 8 to 12 feet of water. Jigging is very popular for crappie, a.k.a. specks, or speckled perch, particularly where anglers either slow-troll or drift to help locate a school. Other anglers prefer to drop Missouri minnows at varying depths on multiple rods. When a consistent bite is noted at one depth, all rigs can be changed to that depth to capitalize on the bite there. Markers dropped overboard to mark areas of schooling specks will allow you to repeat a drift or concentrate on the school to fill a limit if that’s the goal. I like many of the jigs from T.T.I. Blakemore in the Road Runner brand. They produce fish consistently. There are many good brands on the market but these have always produced for me. Get a few and take a kid fishing. They’ll love it. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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Feb. 14-16 Report

For all those who love fishing, St. Valentine’s Day is this coming Friday and for the love of fishing, just go! This week’s full moon on Wednesday should make for some great tides for inshore anglers to fish. Light winds and warmer weather might also be on tap until a front makes its way south by Sunday.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

Anglers working nearshore waters just off the beaches out to a few miles are finding some nice tripletail from south Pinellas to Sarasota when hitting the stone crab trap floats and lines. One of Capt. Rick Grassett’s anglers bagged a nice tripletail on a shrimp pattern fly this week while fishing in Sarasota. Capt. Scott Moore found several nice trips on crab traps between 3 and 4 miles west of Bradenton Beach. Some big black grouper have been caught onboard Capt. Brian Morgan’s charters recently, along with red grouper, and some scamp grouper, hogfish, and a variety of snappers.

Party boats out of Hubbard’s Marina report good action with lane snapper in depths ranging from 50 to 80 feet of water. Hogfish have been chewing in the 40-foot mark. Mangrove snapper in nearshore waters have been hit-or-miss along with red grouper in nearshore depths inside 100-foot depths.

INSHORE

Action inshore has been fairly consistent for most anglers in the West Central Region. Sarasota anglers have had decent catches of some spotted seatrout on jigs and live shrimp under popping corks. Jerk baits like the CAL 5.5 Jerk Bait rigged on an Owner 3/0 live bait hook have attracted some over-slot trout in areas from Hernando Beach south to Anclote Key. MirrOlure 17MR MirrOdines have been a go-to lure for St. Pete. Anglers fishing around Boca Ciega Bay and the Fort DeSoto area.

Old Tampa Bay has been giving up some nice redfish and snook on live bait as well as gold Eppinger Rex Spoons and MirrOdines. On the warmest days, topwater MirrOlure Top Dogs and Duke Dogs have seen some trout action with mid-20-inch fish around Pinellas Point and on the Clam Bar.

On the eastern shores of Tampa Bay, the Ruskin area around the Little Manatee River is producing good catches of redfish and a few snook. Anglers are reporting seeing some pilchards showing up around the range markers and areas at the mouth of Tampa Bay. Tripletail have been seen and a few caught around these channel and range markers as well as around stone crab trap floats.

FRESHWATER

Residential ponds have been productive with bass action taking the limelight. Capt. Bucky Goldman, of West Chase caught a bedding bass on a Chatterbait pushing the scale at about 10 pounds this week while fishing neighborhood lakes. Most areas are seeing some bedding bass. Soft plastic creature baits are deadly on the beds where male bass are guarding the nests. These beds will be in the shallows close to shorelines and are accessible to anglers on foot. You might find this action in your neighborhood ponds and lakes. ‘Til then, I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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